Marty Nothstein and velodrome cut ties

Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call

Congressional candidate Marty Nothstein is no longer executive director of the Trexlertown-based velodrome cycling center, where he cut his teeth as an Olympic champion and businessman before entering politics.

Congressional candidate Marty Nothstein is no longer executive director of the Trexlertown-based velodrome cycling center, where he cut his teeth as an Olympic champion and businessman before entering politics. (Monica Cabrera/The Morning Call)

Congressional candidate Marty Nothstein is no longer the leader of the Trexlertown sports cycling center where he cut his teeth as an Olympic champion and businessman before entering politics.

The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is advertising for an executive director. Nothstein held the position for about a decade.

The website job posting is the first indication Nothstein and the nonprofit that runs the velodrome have parted ways. For months, Nothstein and board members have only said he is “on leave” while he campaigns as a Republican for the vacant 7th District seat.

Nothstein did not return a call Thursday evening for comment. However, his campaign spokesman, Dennis Roddy, said, “We can confirm that Marty is no longer the executive director of the velodrome. Marty is currently a full-time candidate for Congress.”

The Upper Macungie Township facility is owned by Lehigh County, where Nothstein is an elected commissioner. The county leases the facility to a nonprofit, the Velodrome Fund Inc., which employed Nothstein to run day-to-day operations and races and be a liaison to the county.

“Our focus is putting new leadership in place to guide the future,” Grice said.

Nothstein was a three-time world champion and gold and silver Olympic medalist before he became the facility’s executive director in 2008.

Last year, Nothstein was paid $142,688 from the Valley Preferred Cycling Center and $43,500 from Lehigh Valley Health Network, according to his campaign-related financial disclosure statement. He also received $8,000 from Lehigh County for his duties as commissioner.

In 2018, the disclosure shows, Nothstein was paid $23,781 from Valley Preferred Cycling Center, $18,125 from Lehigh Valley Health Network and $3,333 from the county.

Nothstein was elected as a county commissioner in 2015 and chairs the board.

Nothstein won the GOP primary in May. He faces Democrat Susan Wild and Libertarian Tim Silfies in the Nov. 6 general election.